REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean has hit out at proposals to build a 287-acre solar farm on agricultural land near Inkberrow.
During a Westminster Hall debate on large-scale solar farms, Mrs Maclean made clear her opposition to JBM Solar’s proposals.
She has previously visited the proposed site to meet with the Roundhill Wood Solar Farm Opposition Group and carried out a survey of residents which found 70 per cent of respondents opposed the solar farm.
During the debate, Mrs Maclean made clear that she supported renewable energy and reaching the UK’s Net Zero target, but she strongly opposed solar farms being built on agricultural land.
She said: “Residents have told me they are wholly supportive of renewable energy from solar power and the ambition of tackling climate change more generally, but they have a number of concerns, namely loss of prime agricultural land at a time of war.
“I agree with residents that farming subsidies should not be used to encourage more solar farms, when what we really need are more wheat and dairy farms so we can be sustainable as a country.
“I will continue to support Roundhill Wood Solar Farm Opposition Group in the fight to stop solar panels being plonked on good agricultural land.”
Phil Coathup, the group’s chair, added: “We’re not opposed to green energy or measures to protect our planet, but we just shouldn’t be building huge solar farms on good agricultural land.
“We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from Rachel who is backing us in our fight to stop this 250 acre solar farm being built in Roundhill Wood.”
